Very few sporting rifles were manufactured by Spencer and educated estimates put total production well under a few thousand. The action first went into production in 1860 and as soon as the Civil War started all of the machinery and manpower was devoted to turning out rifles and carbines for the Civil War (of historical note, sporting rifles manufactured during the Civil War were for presentation, the most famous being one owned by Gideon Welles). Post Civil War Sporting rifles such as this one were manufactured circa 1870-1875 using surplus military carbine receivers. The top of the receiver is marked "SPENCER REPEATING/RIFLE CO. BOSTON MASS./PAT'D MARCH 6, 1860." and the serial number appears on the top rear of the receiver next to the hammer. It features a blade front sight mounted on a wide base, folding leaf rear sight, and a tang mounted peep sight with disk absent. Mounted with a smooth walnut forearm with pewter forend and straight grip stock with Spencer steel buttplate. Chambered in 56-46 Spencer Rimfire which is the No. 46 cartridge (44 caliber bottleneck rimfire).

Very good. The rifle has some traces of the original finish with a mixture of gray and brown patina with some oxidation and pitting. The wood is good with some dings and scratches as well as a series of chips absent at the junction with the frame and some cracks along the edge of the butt. The markings on the frame are legible and the action excellent.